For those that chase catfish here is one thing I look for, piles of small clams shells on the bank. That is usually a pile of shells that racoons put there after they eat a belly full. That also means that catfish will have there belly full of small clams also.
I've caught cats with there belly and intestine full of shells they have eaten. So when cats are on the prowl, set up by some clam shells and get ready.
I've seen em from this size up to a quarter size..
especially in the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville.